By augusta gil



H. C. MILLER LOOSE I JEIAF`BINDE2R` Original Filed June 29. 1925 i i Reissued Jan.` 15, 1929.

^ UNITED fsf'rATss PATENT v OFFICE. v

nENRYc. MILLER, nncnasnnftmrr: or ivritwnuxnn.WISCONSIN, BY Arr-GUSTA can` .JOHANN .AND murciana` Lorman, AssIGNnns, BOTH or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

`originirlflin, 1,639,305, datedAixg-ust 16,71927,."Seria1 A310.740,312, `filed June 29, v19.25. Application for i reissueled March 5, 1928, Serial No, 259,302.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in loose-leaf binders and hasas an object the provision of an improved and simplified binder which will permit" the ready locking and 'releasing of lthe f 1 connection between the heads thereof.v

f `Another object of this inVentionreSides in f vthe. provision of an kimproved loose-leaf binder in rwhich a ball or oval shaped en- `largement forms a cani `for readily releasa'bly connectingthe `free `end portions `of the posts with one ofthe binder'heads torclamp the leavesbetween the'heads.

It is a further object of thisI invention to y provide an improvedfloose-leai binder having means for permitting the ready, inev adjustment of the'fpost lengths in orderto accommodate Aminor increases or decreases `in -thenumb'er of sheets within the binder;

I A further object otthisA invention resides in the provision of an improved means for facilitating the quick and ready release of the connection between the posts and the binder head in Whichthe-same are extensible; And a still further object of this invention yresides inthe provision of an improved means for readily securing the pivot for ther loose-leaf binder covers `in position'whereby the labor incident `to the mounting of the same is Inaterial'ly reduced and the accidental :dislodge- `rnent of the pivot prevented.

` With the `abovey and other objects in view which will appear asthe description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combinationl and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more yparticularly delined by the appended v claims, it being understood thatsuch chan es inthe precise. embodiment ot the Iherein isclosed invention may be made as come wit-hin the scope ,of the claims. v i In the `accompanying drawings,there are illustrated `several complete examples of the physical embodiment ot the 'invention con- "structed according to the .best modes `so "far devised Ior the practical yapplication of the principles thereof, and in which Figure 1 isa viewlooking'atfthe'rear of ay ,loose-leafy binder embodying the invention, parts thereof being -brokenxaway yand in sec- 'tion to more clearlyillustrate structural detailsl and said view `being taken through Figure 2 on the plane of the line-1 1;

' Figure 2, top plan view of the upper binder head, the eye glass `case cover therefor being in open position;

Figure Bis afragmentary View looking at the rear of a vslightly modified type of looseleafbinder embodying the-invention, parts thereof being in section and parts in elevations, and i Figure 4 is .a `view similar to Figure 3 of still another modified torni ofthe invention.

Referring now more particularlyv to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the-numerals 10` and-11 designate, respectively, upper and lower binder heads between whicha body of leaves 12 is adapted to be clamped.l e The heads are connectible by one or more binder posts 13 adapted to be so operated as to readily releasably` clamp thebody of leaves therebetween. i f

Each post 13 has the major portion of its length formed ot pivotally connected links .14 and a threaded stud 16 extends from the lower-most flink 15 which is directly threaded in a socket`1 connected withthe lower binder head,

With special reference tovFigures 1 and A2, "the youter-most link 14 of each post has an internally threaded socket 2li connected therewith in the threaded Vend of which a stud 25 is adjustable. The outer ends of the studs have approximate ball shaped or round enlargements 26 thereon adapted to ybe engaged or sprung behind pairs of pins 27 fixed in the channel of the upper head. The pins of each pair are spaced sidewise a distance sutlicient to permit the stud :25A to be posiztioned therebetween.

When it is desired to clamp a body of leaves in the binder, the upper head is moved downwardly to lpress against the leaves and the free endportionsof the posts extended about This springing ci `the enl of the pins 27 as clearly illustrated in Figure 1.

The enlargements 26 being rounded makes it diiiicult to detach them from behind the pins 27 and there is provided improved lever devices secured adjacent the free ends of the posts and each consisting of a lever 28 hav.- ing its inner end formed with a transverse part 29 providing a pry which is engageable under the adjacent enlargement 26. The levers are secured in position by one or more studs or rivets 30 carried by the binder head and passed through relatively large openings 3l in the levers outwardly of that portion of the transverse portions 29 engageable under the adjacent enlargement. The transverse portions inwardly ofthe rivets 30 are slightly curved upwardly, at 82, to form fulcrums on which the levers 28 rock when pressure is applied on to the finger engaging ends 33 thereof. As the enlargements 26 are sprung behind the pins 27, they depress the ends 29 a latch 36, a spring 37 normally of the levers and raise the iinger engaging ends 88 thereof so that when it is desired to release the tension on the leaves l2, pressure is applied to the finger engaging portions 33 pivoting the levers on the fulcrums 29 and lifting` the enlargements out of contact with the pins 27. The posts are then straightened and the upper' head raised out of contact with the leaves.

If desired the channel of the upperl binder head may be enclosed by what is termed in the art as an eye-glass case cover 34 which is pivotally mounted, as at 35, and adapted to be releasably secured in a closed position by opening urging` the cover to open-position.

In Figure 3 a slightly modilied form of the invention is illustrated in which the enlargements 26 are internally threaded and adjustable on elongated threaded studs 38 carried by the outer-most post links in lieu of the sockets 24. Vith this construction, minor adjust-ments are obtained by turning the enlargement on the stud 38. In place of the levers 28, angular finger clips 39 are carried by the free ends of theL studs. 38 to facilitate the ready disengagement of the enlargements from behind the pins 27. As the operation of this form of my invention is identicall with that illustrated in Figures l and 2, Vfurther detailed description is deemed unnecessary.

Figure 4 also discloses another modification of my invention in which the outer-most links of the posts carry studs 40 on which a plurality of ball-shaped or spherical enlargements 41, similar to the enlargements 26, are formed, the adjustments being obtained by engaging any one of the enlargements 4l behinds the pins 27 and the spaces between the enlargements forming recesses 42 in which the pins 27 are engageable.

` As is customary in loose-leaf binders, a cover 54 is carried by each binder head to protect the leaves 12 and in Figure 2 is illustrated a novel and improved means for mounting' the cover which consists of a pivot rod. 55 adapted to be inserted through an opening 56 `in the lug extension 57 at 4one end of the upper binder head, through an opening in the inner end 58 of the cover and into a recess 59 in the inner wall or face of the .lug 60 at the other end of the upper head. -The lugs 57 and 60 are hollow and the opening 56 extends through both walls of the lug 57 whereas the outer wall of the lug 60 being imperforated, limits the movement theretoward of the pin 50. A cap 6l which may be of the snap-button type closes the outer end of the opening 56 ofthe lug 57, the spring lugs 62 thereof springing' behind the outer wall of' said lug to prevent longitudinal shifting of t-herod, and consequently, secure the same in position.

This manner of mounting the, covers effects a material saving in labor as the time post being secured to one head and its other end portion being free and eXtensib-ly passed through the second heady and extended thereover at right angles to its portion extended between the heads, an enlargement carried by the free end portion of the post, and a' stop fixed to the second head and behind which the post enlargement is lockingly engageable-to prevent the retraction of the post.

2. A loose leaf binder, comprising a pair of binder heads7 a flexible post adapted to adjustably connect the heads, one end of the post being secured to one head and its other end portion being free and extensibly lpassed through the second head, an enlargement carried by the free end portions of the post, stationary means carried by the second head and behind which the post enlargement is adapted tobe sprung to lockingly connect the post and said second head, and means for adjusting the distance between the enlargement and the first head to compensate for increases and decreases in the number of sheets confined between the heads. y

3. A loose-leaf binder, comprising a pair of b-inder heads, a post adapted to adj ustably connect the heads, one end of the post being secured to one head and its other end portion being free and eXtensibly passed through the second head, an enlargement carried by the free end portion of the post, and a pair of pins carried by the second head and between which the post free end portion is movable to lockingly engage the enlargement therebehind.

4. A loose leaf binder, comprising a pair of binder heads, a flexible" pos-t adapted to ad justably connect theheads, one end-of the pest beingsecured to one heady andi its other end portion being free and extensibly passed through the second head, a substantially' spherical enlargement carried by the free end portion of the post, and mea-ns'carried b-y the second heald and behind whichthepost enlargementis adapted to be sprung to `lockingy ly connect the post and said second head, said enlargement having yan adjustable threaded secured to the rst head and its other end por! tion free and extensibly passedr throughr the second'head, a threaded stud carried by the freeend portion of the post, an enlargement `carried `bythe threaded stud, said threaded stud permitting adjustment of the enlargement to vary the distance between it andthe first binder head, and means `carried by the i second binder and behind which the enlarge-4 ment is adapted to be snapped to connect the post with the second head. y

6. A loose-leaf binder, comprising a pair of binder heads, a fiexible postadapted to adjustably connect the heads, said posthav ing one end secured to one headand its other lend portion free and extensibly passed through the second head, an internally threaded socket carried by the free vend por tion of the post, a stud adjustably threadedin the socket, an enlargement formedon the stud, and means carried by the second head and behindwhich said enlargement is adaptl ed to be sprung to releasably connect thepost s therewith.

7 A loose-leaf binder, comprising `a pair lof binder heads, a flexible post adapted to a'djustably connect the heads, one end of the f post beingsecured to one head and its other end portion being free and extensibly passed through the second head, an enlargement carried by the free end portion of thepost, means carried by the second head and behind which the post enlargement is adapted to be sprung to lockingly connect the post and said second head, and means engageable with the enlargement yto facilitate its quick detachment from the yhead carriedy means.

8. A loose-leaf binder,l comprising a pair of binder heads, a post adaptedto adjustably connect the heads, one end ofthe post being connected with one head and its other end kportion being free and extensibly passed through the second head, an enlargement carvbinder head carried part.

In a device of the character described, ar support having a pair of spaced lugs, one lug having an aperture extending transverselytherethroughand kthe other lug having a` transverse recess in `its inner face `in axial alignment with the aperture of the other lug, a cover having a part adapted to be inserted between the lugs and providedwith an opening registering with the aperture and recess in the lugs, a pivot rod adapted to be passed through the opening of the first-mentioned lug, through the opening in the cover and into the recess of the second lug, said rod being of a length so that when one end is abutting the closed end of the recess in the second lug" its other end is adjacent the' outer end of the opening in the first lug, and a bored snap fastener adapted to be inserted over the end of the rod in the first lug and having means engageable with the first lug to prevent its detachment. l

l0. In a loose leafbinder including a binder head having end cap members provided with forwardly projecting hollow lugs between which the inner end of a cover member is adapted to be pivoted, said cover member having atransverse opening in its innerend portion adapted to register with apertures in both walls of one lug and in the inner wall of `the other lug, a pivot rod adapted to be inserted through the apertures of the first lug and through the opening of the cover member to have one end extend into the other lug aperture to abut the outer unapertured wall thereof, the other end of the rod being dis posed within the first lug, a 'cap member adapted to be inserted in the aperture in the outer Wall of the first lug, and spring means carried by the cap member and engaging thev inner surface of the outer wall of the first lug about its aperture to prevent detachment of the cap `member and axial movement of the rod and the consequent disengagement of the cover member from the binder head.

y 1l. In a loose leaf binder or the like includ ing a support having a pair of sidewise spaced lugs providedv with: transverse apertures aryinserted in the outer end of one lug aperture and yieldable means carried by the member and interlocking with said lug to prevent the detachment of the member from the lug and the consequent axial movement of the rod through the aperture thereof.

12. In a loose leaf binder including a support having a pair of sidewise spaced lugs provided with axially aligned transverse apertures, a cover member having a. part re- Ceived between the lugs and provided with an opening registered with the apertures thereof and a pivot rod passed through the @over opening with its ends disposed in the lugapertures, means preventing axial movement of the rod and the consequent disconneetion of the cover from the support and including spring means interlocked with one lug aperture to prevent the axial movement of the rod outwardly therethrough.

l In testimony whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures.

AUGUSTA GILJOHANN, CAROLINA LOTTER, Assgnees of Henry 0. Miller, Deceased. 

